Southern Style Fish Tacos With Crunchy Slaw And Chipotle Mayo Recipes

BAJA FISH TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE AIOLI ROJO SALSA

Steps:

• For the cabbage slaw: Add the cabbage to a mixing bowl and season with salt. Toss with your hands and gently massage the cabbage to tenderize. Add the cilantro and juice from the lime.
• For the smoky chipotle aioli: Combine the mayonnaise, chipotle and agave in a small bowl. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• For the Baja fish tacos: Carefully cut the halibut into 12 even-sized pieces (each about 4 inches long). Combine the cornstarch, chili powder and 3/4 cup flour in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using a whisk, create a well in the center and slowly pour in the beer as you stir. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the beer, forming a smooth batter.
• Heat 3 inches oil in a heavy pot to 350 degrees F. Line a tray with paper towels.
• Season the remaining 1/4 cup flour in a shallow dish with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each piece of fish in it, shaking off any excess. Dip into the batter, then place in the hot oil. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on the paper towels and season with salt. Keep warm.
• To assemble, place a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Place the tortillas in the pan 2 at a time and lightly drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and cook until golden and the Parmesan is crispy and stuck to the tortilla, 30 to 40 seconds on each side.
• To make each taco, smear a little chipotle aioli on the bottom of each tortilla. Top with some drained slaw, a piece of crispy fish and some Rojo Salsa. Serve with Tortilla Chips.
• Remove the stems and seeds from the dried chiles, then tear them into large pieces. Toast the chiles in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until they start to change color, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add hot water to just cover the chiles (about 2 cups). Place back on medium-low heat and simmer until soft and tender, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Place the tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno and onions on a baking tray, then broil until everything is charred well, turning once, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a blender along with the chiles and their cooking liquid and pulse until smooth but still with a little texture. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Break down the salt into finer pieces in a mortar and pestle (so it sticks to the chips better).
• Heat 5 to 6 inches oil to 350 degrees F in a heavy pot.
• Stack up the tortillas and cut into 6 even pieces. Working in batches, sprinkle into the hot oil and cook, stirring so they don't stick together, until puffed and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and place on a rack over a tray. Season with salt immediately. Serve warm with salsa.

FISH TACOS WITH CREAMY CHIPOTLE CABBAGE SLAW

Steps:

• Combine the cabbages, carrots, onion, scallions, and jalapeño in a large bowl.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, yogurt or sour cream, lime juice or lime juice and vinegar, sugar or honey, and the cumin and chipotle powder, if using, until smooth and creamy.
• Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving and up to 2 days. (If refrigerating for more than an hour or so, drain off any liquid that pools at the bottom of the bowl just prior to serving.)
• In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, chipotle powder, and 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste. Pat each fish fillet dry and lightly dredge in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat and place 2 fillets at a time in the pan. Gently fry for 3 to 6 minutes, until the underside of the fish turns opaque. Use a spatula to flip the fillets and cook until opaque throughout. Place on a paper towel-lined plate, drain the remaining oil from the pan, and repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and the remaining 2 fillets.
• To serve, for each fish fillet, heat tortillas in a clean skillet in batches with the 1 remaining tablespoon oil, flipping them once, then place them on a plate.
• Cut each fillet in half and divide the fish evenly among the tortillas. Toss the slaw to recombine and then add a spoonful to each taco along with some cilantro, if desired. (Chances are you will have excess slaw. Just cover it and stash it in the fridge and serve it alongside pulled pork, grilled chicken, or just about anything.)

CHIPOTLE FISH TACOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Mix together the honey, chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and juice and zest of 1 lime in a small bowl to make a glaze. Set aside.
• Put the broccoli slaw in the bottom of a baking dish. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then toss. Scatter over the sliced sweet peppers and chiles. Top the slaw and peppers with the cod fillets. Season the cod with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the chipotle glaze over the fish and around the baking dish over the slaw.
• Roast until the fish is cooked through and flaky, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately squeeze over the juice of the other lime. Flake the cod into large chunks and sprinkle over the chopped cilantro.
• To build the tacos, place a couple chunks of cod into each taco shell. Top with a pinch of slaw, some sliced avocado, sour cream and hot sauce. Garnish with a lime wedge and squeeze over a little juice before eating.

FISH TACOS WITH HONEY-CUMIN CILANTRO SLAW AND CHIPOTLE MAYO

Steps:

• Place the tilapia chunks in a flat dish and pour 1/2 cup lime juice over the fish. Cover, and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the honey-cumin sauce by whisking together 1/3 cup lime juice, honey, vegetable oil, and ground cumin a small bowl. Set aside until needed.
• To make the chipotle mayonnaise dressing, place the mayonnaise, chilies, adobo sauce, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cayenne pepper together in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate until needed.
• To bread the fish, place the flour, eggs, and panko crumbs in three separate shallow dishes. Season the fish with salt and pepper to taste. Dip the fish pieces first in the four, coating evenly, and shaking off any excess. Dip next in the eggs, and last in the panko crumbs, patting the pieces to help the breadcrumbs hold. Set the fish aside on a plate.
• To cook the breaded fish, pour 1 cup vegetable oil into a skillet to 1/4 inch deep. Heat the oil to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C) over medium heat. Cook the fish, turning until all sides are golden brown, and flesh is easily flaked with a fork. Drain on paper towels. Brush the fish with the honey-cumin sauce.
• Mix the coleslaw and cilantro together in a bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the chipotle mayonnaise dressing, and pour the remaining dressing over the coleslaw mixture. Toss to coat evenly with the dressing.
• Place the tortillas on a flat surface, and spread each with 1 tablespoon reserved chipotle mayonnaise dressing. Divide the fish between the tortillas. Top with the cilantro coleslaw.

FIERY FISH TACOS WITH CRUNCHY CORN SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat grill for high heat.
• In a medium bowl, mix together corn, red onion, jicama, red bell pepper, and cilantro. Stir in lime juice and zest.
• In a small bowl, combine cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, and salt.
• Brush each fillet with olive oil, and sprinkle with spices to taste.
• Arrange fillets on grill grate, and cook for 3 minutes per side. For each fiery fish taco, top two corn tortillas with fish, sour cream, and corn salsa.

GRILLED FISH TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE-LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• To make the marinade, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, lime zest, honey, garlic, cumin, chili powder, seafood seasoning, black pepper, and hot sauce in a bowl until blended. Place the tilapia in a shallow dish, and pour the marinade over the fish. Cover, and refrigerate 6 to 8 hours.
• To make the dressing, combine the sour cream and adobo sauce in a bowl. Stir in the lime juice, lime zest, cumin, chili powder, seafood seasoning. Add salt, and pepper in desired amounts. Cover, and refrigerate until needed.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate. Set grate 4 inches from the heat.
• Remove fish from marinade, drain off any excess and discard marinade. Grill fish pieces until easily flaked with a fork, turning once, about 9 minutes.
• Assemble tacos by placing fish pieces in the center of tortillas with desired amounts of tomatoes, cilantro, and cabbage; drizzle with dressing. To serve, roll up tortillas around fillings, and garnish with lime wedges.

SOUTHERN-STYLE FISH TACOS WITH CRUNCHY SLAW AND CHIPOTLE MAYO

Steps:

• For the slaw: Whisk the lime juice, oil, honey, and salt together in a bowl. Add the green and red cabbage, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro, and toss to combine. Cover with plastic wrap, and let the bowl chill in the fridge for 1 hour, so the flavors can develop.
• For the chipotle mayo: Blend the mayonnaise, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and honey in a food processor until smooth. Remove from processor, and set aside until ready to serve.
• For the catfish: Heat 2 inches of oil in a Dutch oven to 375 degrees F. (For tips on deep-frying, see page 19.)
• Slice the catfish into 1-inch-thick fingers on a diagonal, and season with salt and pepper. Whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and hot sauce on a rimmed plate. Stir together the cornmeal, flour, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper on another rimmed plate, and season with salt and pepper. Working in batches, dip the catfish into the buttermilk batter, then dredge it through the cornmeal mixture, shaking off the excess.
• When the oil is hot, gently drop the catfish into the Dutch oven and fry until golden brown, working in batches, about 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Remove to a paper-towel-lined sheet tray when done, and immediately season with salt and pepper.
• Place the tortillas on a plate, and wrap the plate with damp paper towels. Microwave on high for 45 seconds. (Alternatively, if you have a gas stove, turn the heat to medium and place a corn tortilla directly over the flame, to toast for about 15 seconds on each side. This will soften the tortilla and give it a delicious smoky flavor.)
• To assemble the tacos, place a generous portion of fried catfish onto the center of a warmed tortilla. Top with the crunchy slaw, and top with chipotle mayonnaise. Garnish with lime wedges and cilantro.
• ALTERNATIVE: GRILLED CATFISH
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
• Slice the catfish into 1-inch-thick fingers on the diagonal. Brush with a few tablespoons olive oil on each side, and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill the catfish 2 to 3 minutes per side. Assemble the tacos as directed.